Absorption refrigeration



March 4, 1952 GRQSS 2,587,996

ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION Filed July 5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l l l l l PM IN VEN TOR.

Alfred 6,. Gross March 4, 1952 GROSS ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1945 //Vl/E/VTO/? Alfred G. Gross 5r March 4, 1952 A. G. GROSS 2,587,996

ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION Filed July 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TO EVAPORATOR IN VEN TOR.

Alfred 6. Gross Jfiarneg.

Patented Mar. 4, 1 952 7 ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION Alfred G. Gross, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to The Hoover Company, Nor

poration of Ohio th Canton, Ohio, a cor- Application July 5, 1943, Serial No. 493,491

21 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration and more particularly to two intermittent absorption refrigerating units operating alternately on the generation-condensation and absorption-evaporation periods and utilizing a dry salt such as strontium chloride as the absorbent.

In such machines it is necessary to prevent the refrigerant, in liquid form, from contacting the ,solid absorbent because the liquid refrigerant would destroy the absorbing qualities of the absorbent.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide two intermittent absorption refrigerating units in which it is impossible for the refrigerant,

in liquid form, to contact the solid absorbent.

It is another object of this invention to provide two intermittent absorption refrigerating units operating alternately on the generation-condensation and absorption-evaporation periods in which the condensers are positioned below the generator-absorbers so that any refrigerant, which invariably condenses in the conduits connecting the condenser and the generator-absorb ers, cannot flow ba-ckwardly to the generatorabsorbers and come into contact with the solid absorbent therein and in which the condensers and generator-absorbers are cooled by a single cooling circuit having one heat rejecting element. Prior attempts have been made to provide an indirect cooling circuit for intermittent absorption machines in open communication with the interior of the refrigerating machine and utilizing a portion of the refrigerant as the fluid medium for the indirect cooling circuit, but such attempts have been unsuccessful because the fluid in the indirect cooling circuits was vaporized when the vapor pressure was reduced during the evaporatiomabsorption period of operation which prevented the refrigerant in the evaporator from being evaporated.

This came about by reason of the fact that no provision was made for shielding the liquid in the indirect cooling circuit from the generator-absorbers during the absorption-evaporation period and the liquid in the indirect cooling circuit being warm compared to the refrigerant in the evaporator was evaporated before the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator because both were subjected to the lowered vapor pressure in the generator-absorber during the absorption period of operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an indirect cooling circuit for an intermittent absorption refrigerating machine is provided in open communication with the interior rators E, E will be described in more detail hereinafter.

of the machine which prevents the vaporization of the liquid medium in the indirect cooling circuit by the lowering of the vapor pressure in the generator-absorber. The above result is produced by so arranging the refrigerating unit and the indirect cooling circuit that the liquid medium in the indirect cooling circuit is shielded from the lowered vapor pressure in the generatorabsorber during the absorption period of operation.

It is another object of this invention. to provide two intermittent absorption refrigerating units with a single heat rejecting element for both condensers and generator-absorbers so arranged that the heat rejecting element may be arranged in a vertical air cooling flue extending upwardly along the rear of a domestic refrigerator cabinet and the generator-absorbers and condensers may be arranged in an apparatus compartment beneath the food storage compartment.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of the apparatus according to this invention in which two independent intermittent absorption machines are cooled by a single in- "Figure 1 associamd therewith;

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the absorption refrigerating apparatus of Figure 1 as it appears when assembled with a domestic refrigerator 35 cabinet; and

Figure 4 shows a second form of refrigerating apparatus according to this invention in which the indirect cooling circuit is in open communicaprimary condensers, and E, E two evaporators. "The absorbent-receiving chambers of the genorator-absorbers A, A are connected to condensers C, C by conduits l0, Ill. The con- "densers C, C have a downwardly inclined slope throughout and are connected by vertically extending conduits l4, M to receiving vessels i6,

[6' which form a part of the evaporators E. E. The construction and operation of the evapo- Each generator-absorber A, A has an absorblindrical walls of the vessels A, A, the outer cyabsorbent may be charged into the absorption chamber in any manner well known to the art. The heat exchange vessels [8, 18' are formed of inner and outer concentric cylindrical walls having end closures welded thereto and formane n-ular receiving chambers for an indirect cooling fluid of the indirect cooling circuit for the generator-absorbers A, A and the condensers C, C, the construction and operation of which will be described in more detail hereinafter. In the cylindrical space formed by the inner cvlindrical Walls of the heat exchange vessels 8, l8 are electric heating cartridges 20, 20 of any suitable construction known to the art.

H The generator-absorbers A, A are arranged in an inclined position with the condensers Q, C *alsoarranged in an inclined position immediately below the generator-absorbers A, A. The con- .densers (3',. C arein effect concentric tube heat exchangers, the outer passage of which receives vapor from the generator-absorbers A, A. and

the inner passageof which forms a passage for the cooling fluid of the indirect cooling circuit for the generator-absorbers A, A and the condensers C, C.- V i :7

'Ihelower ends of the inner passages forming the condensersC, C are connected by conduits 22, 22' to a liquid reservoir T while the upper ends areconnected by vapor lift conduits 24, 24' to a gas separation chamber S positioned above both thegenerator-absorbers A, A and the condensers Q5.-

The upper ends of the annular heat exchange chambers l8, l8 of the generator-absorbers A, A are connected by conduits 34, 34', which also are vapor lift conduits, to the gas separation chamber S. A secondary condenser R is positioned immediately below the gas separation chamber S,

the inlet conduit of which extends upwardly into -;th e gas; separationchamber S to nearthe top thereof. Leading from the bottom of the gas separation cha mber S is a liquid cooling coil 36 whichjoins the conduit of the secondary condenser fi at the conduitfisawhich, leads tothe reservoir T. A conduit 40 leads fromthe reservoir T to the valve chamber 42 which is connected by conduit 44,- 44 to the lower end ofthe heat exchange chambers l8,, i8 of the generator-ab- ,S,O I}i)f:1fS, .A A. The valves 46, 46.,are designedto be operated by a snap acting device of any suitable construction. Each of the evaporators E', E consists of tw coiled conduits 41, 41' and 48, 48' joined to vertically. extending conduits 50, .58 extending. downwardly from the receiving vessels [6, l6 and con-' nectedat their upper ends to the of the receiving vessels 1 6, l6; The coiled conduits 41, 4'! are in thermal con- .tact with the walls of a freezing chamber 52 while the coiled conduits 48, 48' have heat ex-' upper portions change fins thereon for the purpose of cooling the food storage compartment of a domestic refrigerator.

Thermostatic bulbs surfaces of the generator-absorbers A, A and are 156, 56' contact the outer 4 connected by capillary -tubes 58, 58' to bellows 60, 60 which upon expansion and contraction are adapted to operate the snap acting device 45. The bulbs 56, 56, tubes 58, 58' and bellows 68, 60' contain a suitable vaporizable fluid so that the bellows 58, 60' will expand and contract upon variations in temperature of the bulbs 56, 56 as is well known in the art. ,A snap acting switch 62 of any well known construction is positioned to be actuated by the snap acting device 45.

A thermostatic bulb 64 is positioned in contact with the freezing chamber 52 and is responsive to the temperature of that chamber. Bulb 64 is connected by a capillary tube 66 to a bellows 68. Bulb .64, tube 66 and bellows 68 contain a suitable vaporizable fluid so that the bellows 68 will expand and contract upon variations in the temperature of the low temperature chamber 52, as is well known in the art. The bellows 68 upon expansion and contraction is set to actuate a snap acting device 10 which in turn operates the valve 12 in the conduit 38 and an electric switch 14.

Theindirect cooling circuit for the generatorabsorbers A, A and the condensers VC, 0' which are formed by the heat exchange vessels l8, 18f, conduits 34, 34', conduits 22, 22, the inner passage of the heat exchanger forming the con denser- Q, C,conduits 24, 24, gas separation vessel S, secondary condenser R, liquid cooling. coil 36, conduit 38, reservoir T, conduit, 40, 'valve chamber 42 and conduits 44, 44 is suitably chargedwith a vaporizable liquidsuch as methyl chloride. Depending upon the cooling liquid selected, the pressure within the indirect cooling circuit need not be high so that the snapacting device 45may be ledinto the interior of the valve chamber'42 through a suitable flexible jointQ'lB.

The refrigerating apparatus just describedand shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 is adapted to be arranged so as to be mounted in ,a domestic refrigerator cabinet, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The, cabinet comprises a back insulated wa1l'8ii, lower insulatedwaH 82, front access door 84 and the top insulated wall 86. At the rear ofthe cabinet is provided a flue 88 for the circulation of air over theheat rejecting parts of the apparatus. An opening 95 at the bottom of the flue 88 .provides forth'e .ent'r'anceof cooling air and a screen' 92 at its top provides for itslexit. The generator-absorbers 'A', A and the condensers C, .C areir'ribeddedin insulationfls and arefarranged in .an' inclined position at the opposite sides of theapparatus compartment formed below the lower insulated wall 82 of 'thecabinet.

. The secondary condenser E and the liquid cooling coil 36am arranged crosswise of the cabinet air flue -88 to. be cooledby air flowing upwardly therethrough while the gas separation chamber S is positioned in the flue 88immediately above the secondary condenser R and the liquid cooling coil 36.. The liquid receiving vessels I5 [6' and thedownwardly extending conduits5 0, 501' of the evaporators E, E! are imbedded in a removable closure 81 of insulating materialfor an opening inthe rear of the cabinetarranged to provide for theassemblyoftheevaporators E, E into the interior of the food. storage compartment so that the entire apparatus can be assembled to 70.

thecabinetas aunit. 7

As shown in Figure 1, the valve [2 is open and theswitch 1 4 is closed. The switch 62 is set so that electricity will be conducted to; the heating cartridge 20 of the generator-absorber A. which will be heated. The bulb 59 is contracted and the bulb 60 is expanded by previous heating of the generator-absorber A as will be described hereinafter. Thus the snap acting device 45 will be positioned to the right, the valve 46 will be closed and the valve 46 open.

With the control set as in Figure l, the heating of the generator-absorber A will drive refrigerant vapor from the solid absorbent contained therein. The refrigerant vapor thus driven off will pass by the conduit ID to the condenser C where it will be condensed and the heat of condensation transferred to the auxiliary cooling medium in the indirect cooling circuit as will be explained hereinafter. The condenser C has a continuous downward slope throughout and the condensed refrigerant will be forced upwardly through the conduit 14 into the receiving vessel 16' by the pressure built up in the generator-absorber A. This action will continue until all the ammonia in the generator-absorber A has been driven off and the evaporator E has been completely charged with liquid refrigerant. Any vapor which may condense in the conduit III will flow with the vapor to the condenser C and cannot return to the generatorabsorber A to deteriorate the solid absorbent therein.

During the heating of the generator-absorber A the auxiliary cooling liquid in the annular heat exchange chamber 18 of the generatorabsorber A will quickly vaporize and the liquid in the conduit 34 will be raised by vapor lift action in the gas separation chamber S, emptying the heat exchange chamber it of l quid cooling medium. This liquid auxiliary cooling fluid cannot return to the generator-absorber A at this time because the valve 46 is closed.

In the meantime absorption of refrigerant vapor is taking place in the generator-absorber A in a manner which will be described in connection with the absorption which takes place in the generator-absorber A when the contro1 operates to shift the generator-absorber A from the generating period to the absorption period and the generator-absorber A from the absorption period to the generating period.

The heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor condensed in the condenser C is transferred to the auxiliary cooling fluid in the inner passageway forming the heat exchanger of the condenser C which will vaporize a portion of the auxiliary cooling fluid therein and this vapor will act as a vapor lift pump to circulate positively the auxiliary cooling fluid upwardly through the conduit 24 into the gas separation chamber S. The vapor so formed will separate from the liquid in chamber S and flow through the auxiliary condenser R, where it will be condensed, while the liquid will flow through the liquid cooling coil 36 and both the cooled liquid and the con densed vapor will flow by conduit 38 into the reservoir T to be returned by conduit 22' to the inner passage of the heat exchanger of the condenser C for further cooling action. In this manner the heat of condensation of the refrigerant vapor condensed in the condenser C is transferred to the cooling air flowing over the fins of the secondary condenser E and the liquid cooler 36. At the same time heat is being transferred to the cooling air from the generatorabsorber A as will be described hereinafter.

When sufficient refrigerant has been driven from the absorbent in the generator-absorber A heat from the heating cartridge 20' will no lon"er beutilized in driving refrigerant vapor from the absorbent in the generator-absorber A and it will rise in temperature. This rise in temperature will be quite abrupt even though the heat supplied to the generator-absorber A remains constant. This comes about by reason of the fact that while refrigerant is being driven from the solid absorbent, the heat supplied thereto is being utilized to vaporize the refrigerant and when the refrigerant is vaporized, the heat supplied quickly raises the temperature of the generator-absorber to a much higher value. This will cause the liquid in the bulb 56 to vaporize whereby the bellows 60 will be expanded. At this time the bellows 60 will be in contracted position because absorption is taking place in the generator-absorber A and the fluid in the bulb 56 will be condensed. Expansion of the bellows 60 will push the snap-acting device to the left which will operate the switch 62 to de-energize the heating element 20 and to energize the heating element 20. At the same time it will operate to open the valve 46 and to close the valve 46.

The indirect cooling system is charged with sufficient auxiliary cooling medium so that it always contains auxiliary cooling medium in liquid form at a level above the generator-absorbers A--A, When the control operates to open the valve 46, the liquid in the indirect cooling system will be dumped into the annular heat exchange vessel [8' of the generator-absorber A. Since the generator-absorber A is hot at this time, the auxiliary cooling liquid will be quickly vaporized by the transfer of heat of vaporization of the auxiliary liquid from the generator-absorber A and it in turn will thus be quickly cooled. The vapor formed in the heat exchange vessel [8 will act as a vapor lift pump to raise the auxiliary cooling liquid through the conduit 34' into the gas separation chamber S. The vapor will separate from the liquid and pass to the auxiliary condenser R where it is condensed while the liquid will flow through the liquid cooling coil 36 to the conduit 38, Where it will join the condensed vapor, flow through reservoir T, valve chamber 42, the open valve 46' and conduit 44, back to the heat exchange vessel I 8. Thus a positive circulation of liquid cooling medium takes place through the above-described circuit whereby the generatorabsorber A is quickly cooled. The cooling of the generator-absorber A will reduce the pressure therein and the solid absorbent contained therein will begin to absorb refrigerant vapor and vaporization of the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator E will begin. 5.

The coils 41 and 48 are in open communication with the receiver I6 so that the vapor pressure of the refrigerant in each coil will be the same. Since the receiver vessel l6 and the downwardly extending conduit 50 are embedded in insulation 8'], the coiled conduit 41' is in heat exchange with the freezing vessel 52 and the coiled conduit 48 in heat exchange with the air in the food storage compartment, no refrigerant will be vaporized in the conduit 50 and considerable evaporation will take place in the coiled conduits 4'! and 48' as the vapor pressure in the vessel I6 is reduced.

This will cause a rapid ebullition of refrigerant vapor in the upwardly extending coiled conduits 41 and 48 and a positive circulation of liquid refrigerant will take place from the vessel I6, downwardly through the conduit 50 and upwardly through the coiled conduits Al and 48 and back to the vessel It. This circulation takes place by the lifting action of the refrigerant "evaporated in the coiled conduits' l'!" and 48Land itis'knownin the art'as a vapor lift pump action.

Thus 'the more refrigerant vapor that is evapo- 'ratedin the conduits 4? and 38 the more rapid will'b'e the circulation of the liquid refrigerant.

'Furthermore, the greater the refrigerant load that is placed upon the coils '4? and 43', the greater will be the amount of heat which will be transferred to the liquid refrigerant in the coiled conduits 41" and 48. This will produce a greater or lesser evaporation of refrigerant in the conduits 4'! and '58 depending upon the refrigeration load placed upon those coils.

During this .period the temperature of the coils 41 and 48' will be substantially the same because the vapor pressure on their interior will be the same and each contains liquid refrigerant. However, the temperature of the chamber 52 can be maintained considerably lower than the temperature of the coiled conduit 48 by altering the characteristics of the heat conducting path from the air in the food storage compartment to the coiled conduit 48.

The circulation of liquid refrigerant will con- ,tinue in both conduits 4? and 48 until the control bulb 56 and bellows [it operate to switch the generator-absorber A back to the generating period or the bulb 64 and bellows 68 operate to stop the entire'apparatus, as will be later described.

Asevaporation and'absorption is taking place in the evaporator E and the generator-absorber A, the generator-absorber A is being heated by theaheating element 28. Vapor is being driven from the solid absorbent in the generator-absorber A, condensed in the condenser C and collected in the evaporator B as previously described in connection with the ebullition of vapor from the generator-absorber A.

1 By the time that substantially all the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator E is evaporated,

the refrigerant vapor will be driven from the solid absorbent in the generator-absorber A. Thiswill cause the medium in bulb 56 to expand thev bellows 60 in'the manner previously described in connection with the generator-absorber A. S nap ,-a c ting devi e ,45 will be moved to the right as viewed in Figure 1 whereby the valve v46 will be closed, the valve 46 opened, and the switch 62 operated to energize the'heating cartridge 20 and to de-energize the heating cartridge 2B. Thiswill cause vaporization to take place in'the generator-absorber A and absorption in the generator-absorber A, which will proceed as previously described.

The control bulbs 56 and 56 will function to k operate alternately the generator-absorbers A, A on the generating period-and on, the absorption period, as justdescribed, until the temperature of the chamber 52 goes below apredetermined limit which may be substantially below the temperature in the food storage compartment. At this time the bulb 64 will operateto; collapse the bellows 68 and operate to close the valve 12 -s-ad. sen i sw T s/W o e e to sorption. and will pass to the secondary condenser 'R where it will be condensed and the vapor lift action of the vapor rising through the'tubes fl or 34 as the case may be, will'quickly emptythe annular heat exchange vessel. As the valve '12 is now closed, the cooling medium condensed in the secondary condenser'R and that flowingto the gas separation chamber S cannotreturn to the annular heat exchange chambers of either the generator-absorbers or the condensers. When the absorption of refrigerant vapor in the generator-absorber being cooled ceases, no 'more refrigerant will evaporate inthe evaporator' 'of that unit. Thereafter the temperature of the air in the food storage compartment and that-0f the chamber 52 will slowly rise until the control bulb 64 again acts to open the valve 12 and close the switch M. The two units will then operat cyclically as previously described.

When one unit is operating on the generating period, the other is always operatingon "the evaporation-absorption period and substantially continuous refrigeration is being produced so that the chamber 52 and the food storage chamber are always maintained at their'prop'ertemperatures. i

In intermittent absorption machines 'of the type using a solid absorbent such as strontium chloride the tube leaving the generator-absorber is always cool at the start of a-generating period and some of the refrigerant vapor inevitably will be condensed in this conduit. Ifthis condensed refrigerant should find its way back to the solid absorbent in thegenerator-absorber, it would quickly deteriorate the solid absorbent in the generator-absorber so as to render it inoperative. According to the above-described arrangement, this condensed refrigerant vapor cannot flow into the generator-absorber but must flow downwardly through the conduits l0, l0 into'the'condensers C, C" and thus be prevented fromever contacting the solid absorbent while in liquid form.

The modification of the invention shownin Figure 4 includes all the advantages'flowing from that disclosed in Figuresl, 2 and 3, with the additional advantage that the indirect cooling circuit is in open communication with the interior of the unit and a portion of the refrigerant'itself is utilized to transfer the heat from the unit to the ultimate cooling medium such as theair. In addition, the unit of Figure 4 has but a-single condenser and a single evaporator.

Referring to Figure 4 of the'drawings, -A, A represent two generator-absorbers'as in Figure l, S a single condenser and Ea single evaporatorc The absorbent-receiving chambersof the generator-absorbers A, A are connected to the condenser S by conduits H0, H0, The condenser S'is in the form of a coiledconduit and ishoused within the interior ofa reservoir H2 formingpart of the indirect cooling circuit as will be more particularly described hereinafter. The conduits H9, H9 have check valves marked on which allow the flow of vapor from the absorber-receivin 'chambcr of the generator-absorb ers A, A to the condenser S but which prevents a the reverse flow of any fluid. The coiled conduit forming the condenser S is in open communication with the reservoir H2 at itsb ottoin end. The bottom of the reservoir H2 is connected to the evaporator E by an upwardly extending conduit H 3 which includes the trap 13. It will be noted that as in Figure 1 the condenser S is located below the generator-absorbers A, A.

The generator-absorbers A, Aof Figureiflia re 76 constructed the same as in Figure l and include annular heat exchange vessels H8, H8 and heating cartridges I20, I.

In the receiving vessel II6 of the evaporator E is a float valve II5 which controls the flow of liquid refrigerant from the conduit II4 responsive to the level of liquid refrigerant in the vessel H6. The evaporator E of Figure 4 is substantially the same as one of the evaporators disclosed in Figure 1. The generator-absorbers A, A are connected to the upper end of the receiving vessel II6 of the evaporator E by conduits H1, H1 and conduit II9. The conduits H1, H1 have check valves therein marked cv which will allow vapor to flow toward the absorbent-receiving chamber of the generator-absorber A, A but will prevent the reverse flow of any fluid.

The upper end of each of the annular heat exchange chambers II8, I I8 of the generator-absorbers A, A is connected by conduits I34, I34 to a chamber S. The upper end of the reservoir H2 is also connected to the chamber S by a conduit I35. The secondary condenser R is connected at its upper end to the lower portion of the chamber S and at its lower end to a second reservoir I31. The reservoir I31 is connected to the bottom of the reservoir H2 by a conduit I 38. From the lower end of the reservoir I I2 a conduit I leads to the valve chamber I42. The valve chamber I42 is connected by conduits I44 and I44 to the lower end of the heat exchange vessels H8, H8.

Thermostatic bulbs I56, I56 contact the outer surface of the generator-absorbers A, A and are connected by capillary tubes I58, I58 to bellows I60, I60 which upon expansion and contraction are adapted to operate the snap acting device I45. As in Figure l, the bulbs, bellows and connecting tubes contain a suitable vaporizable fluid so that the bellows will expand and contract upon variations in temperature of the generator-absorbers A, A. A snap acting switch I62 of any well known construction is positioned to be actuated by snap acting device I45.

The valve chamber I42 forms a housing for a slidable valve I1I having ends I46, I46 which cooperate with valve seats I13, I13. Upon reciprocation the valve element I'II cooperates with the seats I 13, I13 to open or close the openings leading to the conduits I 44, I44. The conduit I40 leads to the interior of the valve chamber I42 near the left hand end thereof and the valve seat I13 has grooves I16 to allow fluids to pass along the sides of the seat member I13 whether valve element IN is in seating engagement with valve seat member I13 or not. The valve element I1I has grooves I18 cut in the exterior thereof to allow fluids to pass from one end thereof to the other.

Slidably mounted on the exterior of the valve housing I42 is a permanent magnet I80, having north and south poles at the opposite ends thereof, which is adapted to be reciprocated to the right and to the left by the snap-acting device I 45.

The valve chamber I42 is made of non-magnetic material such as certain types of stainless steel while the valve element Ill and the valve permanent magnet I80 are made of such length- 10 that when the valve element I H is moved either to the right or to the left, a circuit for magnetic lines of force is formed emanating from one end of the magnet I80, passing through the non-.

magnetic walls I 42 into the valve seat members I13 or I13 as the case may be, through the valve element HI and back to the other end of the magnet I again after passing through the non-magnetic walls of the chamber I42. In such construction the valve element MI is held tightly against the seat by the magnetic lines of force regardless of whether it and the magnet I80 are moved to the right or to the left.

The liquid level in the indirect cooling circuit is preferably maintained at least as high as the reservoir I31. However, it will be noted under these circumstances that no liquid can enter the absorbent-receiving chambers of the generator-absorbers A, A because of the check valves in the conduits H0, H6 and the fact that the,

remaining conduits of the system form upwardly extending loops so that the liquid in the indirect cooling circuit cannot contact with the absorbent in the absorbent-receiving chambers of the generator-absorbers A, A.

A thermostatic bulb I64 is positioned in contact with the evaporator E and is responsive to the temperature of the evaporator. The'bulb I64 is connected by a capillary tube I66 to a bellows I68. As in the modification of Figure 1 the bulb I64, the tube I66 and the bellows I68 contains a suitable vaporizable fluid so that the bellows I 68 will expand and contract upon variations in temperature of the evaporator E. The bellows I68, upon expansion and contraction, is adapted to actuate a snap-acting device I10 which in turn operates a valve I12 in the conduit I38 and an electric switch I14.

As shown in Figure 4 the valve I12 is open and the switch I 14 is closed. The switch I62 is in such position that electricity will be conducted to the heating cartridge I20 of the generatorabsorber A which will be heated. The bellows I 60' is contracted and the bellows I60 is expanded as explained in connection with Figure 1. The snap acting device I45 will be positioned to the right, the valve I1I will be positioned to the right so its end I46 will be in contact with the seat I13 to stop the flow of fluid through conduit I44 and its end I46 will be removed from contact with the seat I13 to allow flow of fluid through conduit I44.

The heating of the generator-absorber A will drive refrigerant vapor from the solid absorbent contained therein and this vapor will pass by the conduit 0' to the condenser S after having passed through the check valve in the conduit I I0. The cool liquid refrigerant in the reservoir II2 will take up the heat of condensation. of the refrigerant vapor in the condenser S whereby the vapor will be condensed and flow into the reservoir II2 near the bottom. Any vapor generated from the liquid in the reservoir I I2 by the heat of condensation will form vapor bubbles and raise refrigerant upwardly through the conduit I 35 by vapor lift action. The vapor and liquid will flow through the chamber S, the secondary condenser R and return to the reservoir I12 through reservoir I31 and conduit I38 for further cooling action in due course. The rise in pressure caused by the heating of the generator-absorber A in the reservoir II2 will cause some of the liquid level in the receiving vessel I I6 of the iii evaporator E is below acertain level, this refrig'-' erant liquid will enter the receiving vessel H6 past the float valve H therein until the rise in level in the receiving vessel IIB closes the valve II5.

As explained in connection with Figure 1, the liquid in the heat exchange chamber H8 of the generator-absorber A will quickly vaporize and flow by the conduit I35 to the chamber S to be recondensed in the secondary condenser R. This liquid cannot return to the chamber I I8 at this time because the end'HiIVof the valve I7! is positioned against its seat I753.

In the meantime as explained in connection with Figure 1, absorption of refrigerant vapor-is taking place in the generator-absorber A.

When the refrigerant in the generator-absorber A has all been driven from the solid absorbent therein the fluid in the bulb I56 will expand as explained in connection with Figure l and operate the bellows I60 to shift the snap acting device to the left which will operate the switch I62 to tie-energize the heatingelement I and to energize the heating element I20. the same time the permanent magnet I89 is moved to the left and the magnetic lines of force will cause the valve element III to move therewith and force the end N6 of the valve element I'II against the magnetic seat I13 to close the opening to the conduit I44 and unseat the end I46 to allow flow of fluid through conduit I44.

This will cause the liquid refrigerant in the indirect cooling circuit to be quickly dumped into the heat exchange chamber I I3 of the generatorabsorber A to quickly cool the same. Under these conditions the indirect cooling fluid enters the valve chamber I42 by the conduit I iii, passes through the grooves 'I'IB in'the valve seat member I73 past the valve MI by grooves 'I 78, through the opening in the seat-ll3, through the conduit I44 and thence into the heatexchange chamber H8;

As explained in connection with Figure l, the liquid that was dumped into the heat exchange chamber IIB' will be quickly vaporizedto cool the generator-absorber A and the vapor thus formed will act as a vapor lift pump to circulate positively liquid upwardly through'theconduit I34 to the chamber S. The liquid and the vapor will pass from the chamber S into the secondary condenser E where the vapor will be .condensed and the liquid cooled and returned'to the-heat exchange vessel H8 by way of reservoir I31, conduit I33, reservoir H2, conduit I40, "valve chamber I52 and conduit I44.

By the time the generator-absorber A has absorbed all the refrigerant of which it is capable the'generator-absorber A will bedepleted of refrigerant and the control bulb I56 will operate as previously described to shift the snap acting device I l5 to the right which will operate the switch I62 to de-energize the generator-absorber A and to energize the generator-absorber A. At the same time the magnet I89 will be shifted to the right, the magnetic circuit will be broken by the movement of the left hand end of the'magnet from directly over the valve seat I13 and quickly move the valve IlI to the right to establish another magnetic circuit and. hold theend I46 of the valve I'iI against the valve seat.member. I73 to close theopening to the conduit I44. Under these .conditions theindirect .cooling fluid will enter the valve chamber I42 by conduit I IIJ, enter the opening in the valve seat member I'I3:.and thus flow inte -the conduit I44.

All

-The'generator absorbers A, A will then operate cyclically until thetemperature of the evaporator E contracts the fluid in the bulb I64 to operate the :control bellows IE8 as described in connection with Figure l. The generator-absorber then operating on the absorption period will be quickly emptied of cooling medium as described in connection with Figure 1 and the evaporator temperature will slowly rise until the control again operates to open the valve In and close the switch I14 to start the cycling operation as previously described. During the absorption period of the generator-absorbers A, A the lowering of the vapor pressure causes refrigerant vapor to be drawn from-the receiver IIB, throughthe conduit H9 and conduits II! or II? asthe case may be into the generator-absorbers A or A, past the check valve in the conduit I IT or I I7. During the generating period of operation of the generator-absorbers A, A the check valves in'the conduits II'I', III prevent refrigerant vapor from passing to the evaporator The above-described refrigerating system provides an indirect cooling circuit having a single heat rejecting element for two intermittently operating absorption refrigerating units having a single evaporator and a single condenser in which the indirect cooling circuit is in open communication with the interior of the units and in which a portion of the refrigerant is utilized for cooling both the condenser and the generator-absorbers of the units but during the absorption period of the operation of the generator-absorbers the liquid'refrigerant in' the indirect cooling circuit is shielded from the low vapor pressure in the generator-absorbers so as to prevent the evaporation of the-liquid in the indirect cooling circuit rather than the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator.

While I have shown and described but a number of modifications of my invention, it is to.be understood that these modifications are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described, but to include all equivalent variations'thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising, an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two generator absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber and an indirect cooling system for said apparatus in open communication therewith and utilizing a portion of the refrigerant for transferring heat from said apparatus to the ultimate cooling medium.

2.-An bsorption refrigerating apparatus comprising, an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two' generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber' and an indirect cooling system for said apparatus in open communication therewith and utilizing a portion of the 'refrigerant'for transferring heat from said apparatus to the ultimate cooling medium, said apparatus and system .being so constructed and arranged that liquid medium contained in said cooling system is not sub-- jectedto the lowered vapor pressures caused when either generator-absorber is operating as an absorber.

3.. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising an .intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having twogenerator-absorbers each. operating. alternately as '-;a generator; andcasmn absorber and an indirect coolin system for said apparatus in open communication therewith and utilizing a portion of the refrigerant for transferring heat from said apparatus to the ultimate cooling medium, said system having a single heat rejecting element for transferring heat from the heat rejecting parts of said apparatus to the ultimate cooling medium.

5. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising, an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber and bein charged with a solid absorbent subject to deterioration if contacted with refrigerant in liquid form, condensin means, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said condensing means, said condensing means being positioned at a level below the point of connection of said conduits to said generator-absorbers and an indirect cooling system for the generatorabsorbers and condensing means in open communication therewith and utilizing a portion of the refrigerant for transferring heat from said generator-absorbers and condensing means to the ultimate cooling medium.

6. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising, an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber and being charged with a solid absorbent subiect to deterioration if contacted with refrigerant in liquid form, condensing means, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said condensing means, said condensing means being positioned at a level below the point of connection of said conduits to said generator-absorbers and an indirect cooling system for the generator-absorbers and condensing means in open communication therewith and utilizing a portion of the refrigerant for transferring heat from said generator-absorbers and condensing means to the ultimate cooling medium, said system having a single heat rejecting element for transferring heat from said generator-absorbers and condensing means to the ultimate cooling medium and being positioned above said generator-absorbers and condensing means.

'7. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising, an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber and being charged with a solid absorbent subject to deterioration if contacted with refrigerant in liquid form, condensing means, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said condensing means, said condensing means being positioned at a level below the point of connection of said conduits to said generator-absorbers and an indirect cooling system for the generatorabsorbers and condensing means in open communication therewith and utilizing a portion of the ultimate cooling medium, said apparatus and system being so constructed and arranged that liquid refrigerant in said system is not subjected to the lowered vapor pressures caused when either generator-absorber is operating on the absorption period.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, intermittent refrigerating apparatus having two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber and having condensing means, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said condensing means, said condensing means being positioned at a level below the point of connection of said conduits to said generator-absorbers and an indirect cooling circuit for the condensing means and generator-absorbers, said circuit including heat rejecting elements in heat exchange relation with the condensing means and generator-absorbers and a single air-cooled heat rejecting element connected in circuit with said heat rejecting elements and said cooling circuit being in open communication with the interior of said apparatus.

9. In combination, a domestic refrigerator cabinet having a food storage compartment, an apparatus compartment below said food storage compartment and a vertically extending air flue extending upwardly along one side of said food storage compartment, an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two genera tor-absorbers operating alternately on the generation and absorption periods associated with said cabinet, said generator-absorbers being positioned in said apparatus compartment, a condenser positioned in said apparatus compartment below and connected by conduits to each of said generator-absorbers and an evaporator positioned in said food storage compartment and connected to receive liquid refrigerant from said condensers and an indirect cooling system for said apparatus comprising a heat exchange element in heat exchange relation with each of said condensers and said generator-absorbers and a single heat rejecting member connected by conduits with said heat exchange element and being positioned in said vertical air flue.

10. In combination, a domestic refrigerator cabinet having a food storage compartment, an apparatus compartment below said food storage compartment, and a vertical air flue extending upwardly along one side of said food storage compartment, an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two generator-' absorbers operating alternately on the generation and absorption periods associated with said cabinet, said generator-absorbers being positioned in side by side relationship in said apparatus compartment, at least one condenser connected to receive refrigerant vapor from said generatorabsorbers and positioned in said apparatus compartment below the level of said generator-absorbers and an indirect cooling circuit for said apparatus comprising heat exchange elements in heat exchange relation with said generator-absorbers and condenser, connected by conduits to a heat rejecting member in said vertical air flue.

11. In combination, a domestic refrigerator cabinet having a food storage compartment, an apparatus compartment below said food storage compartment, a vertical air flue extending upwardly along one side of said food storage compartment, an intermittent absorption refrigeratmg apparatus having two generator-absorbers operating alternately on the generation and abl5 sorption periods associated with said cabinet, saidgenerator-absorbers being positioned in side by side relationship in said apparatus compartment," at least one condenser connected to receive refrigerant vapor from said generator-absorbers andpositioned in said apparatus compartment below'the level of said generator-absorbers and an indirect cooling circuit for said apparatus comprising heat exchange elements in heat exchange relation with said generator-absorbers and said condenser connected by conduits to a heat rejecting member in said vertical air flue, said heat exchange elements, heat rejecting member and conduits being so constructed and arranged that vapor formed in said heat exchange elements raises cooling fluid to the top of said heat-rejecting member.

12. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two generator-absorbers operating alternately on generation and absorption periods, condensing means connected to receive refrigerant vapor from said enerator-absorbers and positioned at a level below said generatorabsorbers and an indirect cooling circuit for said generator-absorbers and said condensing means, said circuitcomprising heat exchange elements in heat exchange relation with said generatora-bsorbers and said condensing means, vertically extending conduits leading upwardly from said heat exchange elements to the top of a secondary condenser positioned at a level above said heat exchange elements, and said secondary condenser being connected by return conduits to said heat exchange elements.

- 13. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus having two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber, condensing means connected to receive refrigerant vapor from said generator-absorbers and positioned at a level below said generatorabsorbers, and an indirect cooling circuit for said generator-absorbers and said condensing means, said circuit comprising heat exchange elements in heat exchange relation with said generatorabsorbers and said condensing means, vertically extending conduits leading upwardly from said heat exchange elements to the top of a secondary condenser positioned at a level above said heat exchange elements, and said secondary condenser being connected by return conduits to said heat exchange elements, and control means for alternately operating each generatorabsorber as a generator and then as an absorber as the other is operating as an absorber and then as a generator, said control means also being constructed to control the flow of cooling fluid to the heat exchange elements in heat exchange relation with said generator-absorbers.

14. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising an intermittent absorption refrigerating apparatus havingtwo generator-absorbers each' operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber, condensing means connected to receive refrigerant vapor from said generator-absorbers and positioned at alevel below said generatorabsorbers, and anindirect cooling circuit for said generator-absorbers and said condensing means, said; circuits comprising heat exchange elements in heat exchange relation. with said generatorabsorbers and said condensing means, vertically extendingconduits leading upwardly from said heat exchange elements to the 'topof a secondary condenser positionedat. a level above said; heat,

exchange elements, and said secondary condenser being connected by return conduits to said heiat exchange elements, control means for alternately operating each generator-absorber as agener'ator and then as an absorber as the other isfoperatingl as an absorber and then as a generator, said con-' trol means also being constructed to control the flow of cooling fluid to the heat exchange elc ments in heat exchange relation with said generator-absorbers and a second control means for controlling the flow of cooling fluid to all of said heat exchange elements and the supply or ergy to said apparatus.

15. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising two generator-absorbers each "oper f ating alternately as a generator and as an absorber, a single primary condenser, conduits conmeeting said generator-absorbers to said primary condenser, the connection between said conduits" and said primary condenser being located at a lower level than said generator absorbers, a

single evaporator communicating with the'lower,

end of said condenser and connected to each genierator-absorber by separate conduit means and an indirect cooling circuit for said apparatus comprising a heat exchange elementin heat ex change relation with each generator absorber, one end of each of saidheat exchange elements being connected by vertically extending conduits to a secondary condenserpositioned above said generator-absorbers, a liquid reservoir surrounding said primary condenser, said reservoir being connected by 'a vertically extending conduit to said secondary condenser and'by other conduits to theother end of each of saidheat exchange elements.

16. An absorption refrigerating apparatus.

comprising two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber,

a single primary condenser conduits connecting.

said generator-absorbers to said primary'condenser, the connection between said conduits and said primary condenser being located at a lower level than said generator-absorbers, a single,

connected by a vertically extending conduit to" said secondary condenser and by other conduits to the other end of each of said heat exchange elements, said primary condenser. being in open communication with said reservoir.

17. An, absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber, a single primary condenser, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said primary condenser, the connection between said conduits and said primary condenser being located at, a lower. level than said generator-absorbers, a single evaporator communicating with the lowerend of said condenser and connected to each generatorabsorber by separate conduit means and an in direct cooling circuit forsaid apparatus comprising a heat exchange element in heat exchange relation with each generator-absorber, one. end 76,. of; each heat exchange element being connected by a vertically extending conduit to a secondary condenser positioned at a level above said generator-absorbers, a liquid reservoir surrounding said primary condenser, said reservoir being connected by a vertically extending conduit to said secondary condenser and by other conduits to the other end of each of said heat exchange elements, said heat exchange elements and the conduits connecting them to said secondary condenser being so constructed and arranged that vapor formed in said heat exchange elements raises liquid cooling medium to said secondary condenser.

18. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising two generator-absorbers each operating alternately as a generator and as an absorber, a single primary condenser, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said primary condenser, the connection between said conduits and said primary condenser being located at a lower level than said. generator-absorbers, a single evaporator communicating with the lower end of said condenser and connected to each generator-absorber by separate conduit means and an indirect cooling circuit for said apparatus comprising a heat exchange element in heat exchange relationship with eachgenerator-absorber, one end of each of said heat exchange elements being connected by vertically extending conduits to a secondary condenser positioned above said generator-absorbers, a liquid reservoir surrounding said primary condenser, said reservoir being connected by a vertically extending conduit to said secondary condenser and by other conduits to the other end of each of said heat exchange elements and control means for controlling the flow of cooling medium from said reservoir to said heat exchange elements.

19. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising, two generator-absorbers each oper ating alternately as a generator and as an absorber, a single primary condenser, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said primary condenser, the connection between said conduits and said primary condenser being located at a level below said generator-absorbers, the upper end of said primary condenser being connected to said generator-absorbers by valved conduits constructed to provide for the flow of vapor from said generator-absorbers to said primary condenser but to prevent the reverse flow of fluid, a single evaporator positioned at a level above the generator-absorbers, said evaporator being connected by a valved conduit to the lower end of said condenser constructed to provide for the flow of liquid refrigerant from said primary condenser to said evaporator responsive to the liquid level in said evaporator, said evaporator also being connected to each generator-absorber by valved conduits constructed to provide for the flow of vapor from said evaporator to said generatorabsorbers but to prevent the reverse flow of fluid.

20. An absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising, two generator-absorbers each oper-- ating alternately as a generator and as an absorber, a single primary condenser, conduits connecting said generator-absorbers to said primary condenser, the connection between said conduits and said primary condenser being located at a level below said generator-absorbers, the upper end of said primary condenser being connected to each of said generator-absorbers by a valved conduit constructed to provide for the flow of vapor from said generator-absorbers to said primary condenser but to prevent the reverse flow of fluids, a single. evaporator positioned at a level above said generator-absorbers, said evaporator being connected by a valved conduit to the lower end of said condenser constructed to provide for the flow of liquid refrigerant from said primary condenser to said evaporator responsive to the liquid level in said evaporator, said evaporator being connected to each of said generator-absorbers by valved conduits constructed to provide for the flow of vapor from said evaporator to said generator-absorbers but-to prevent a reverse flow of fluid, and an indirect cooling system for said condenser and said generator-absorbers comprising a liquid reservoir surrounding said primary condenser, heat exchange elements in heat exchange relation with each generator-absorber, and a secondary condenser, said secondary condenser being positioned above said heat exchange elements and said reservoir, the upper end of said secondary condenser being connected to one end of each of said heat exchange elements and said reservoir by vapor lift conduits and the opposite end of said secondary condenser being connected to said reservoir, and said reservoir being connected by valved conduits to the opposite end of said heat exchange elements.

21. In combination, an absorption refrigerating apparatus comprising a generator-absorber and a condenser and a secondary cooling circuit for said apparatus, said circuit being in open communicating with said apparatus and utilizing a portion of the refrigerant as the auxiliary cooling medium.

ALFRED G. GROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,854,778 Boving Apr. 19, 1932 2,093,552 Elfving et a1 Sept. 21, 1937 2,287,172 Harrison et al. June 23, 1942 2.446.636 Coons Aug. 10, 1948 

